K3 + DA* 60-250 mm f/4 @ f/9 on tripod, at 60 mm, 170 mm and 250 mm focal length. The river must be 2 or 3 miles away and, early in the morning, when there is no sound around, you can faintly hear the flow of water.

[MikeNArk]

Overall, the first shot looks the best to me. It includes more terrain. Nice shots.

[angkymac]

This is educational photography for me.
I often have opportunities to photograph the American River away down deep in its canyon, but have a lot of confusion about how to do so.
Your top image, compared to the other two is more captivating.
Yet the bottom ones give more info about the river and the ruggedness of the near-river terrain that it runs through.
Thanks for the opportunity to compare them in context.
Angky.

[RICHARD L.]

THX !

This situation exploits the potential of a zoom lens fully. You place your camera on a solid tripod, check for nice compositions all along the focal range and, voilà ! In digital, you don't have to "choose" only a certain or a few compositions, pictures cost nothing and you can shoot as many as you see fit. Showing them all is another thing ... lol !

Best Regards